Kate Effect

Archbishop Pitches on Youtube For More Souls As He Prepares To Christen George

10.22.13 8:41 AM ET

The Church of England has scented a PR opportunity with their latest high-profile member, Prince George, and the Archbishop of Canterbury has today released a video on Youtube encouraging other parents to follow Kate and William's example and baptise their children.

In the short film the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are also warned that there will be “tough times” ahead as parents.

Churchman Justin Welby, who will christen George in the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace at 3pm tomorrow, said: “One of the things I’m sure about is that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George’s parents, have had so much advice that they could probably fill a house with it. My message to them would be, what a treat, what an amazing gift, what wonderful times that you will have. There will be great times and tough times, as there always are with children.”

The Archbishop continues: “All babies are unbelievably special, not only royal babies. As a nation we are celebrating the birth of someone who will in due course be the head of State. That’s extraordinary. It gives you the sense of the forwardness of history as well as the backwardness.

“All through Christian history, for 2,000 years, being baptised meant to join the family of the church and that’s what it means today...I will mark Prince George with the sign of the cross on his forehead and that’s exactly what every priest does at every single baptism. That is the sign by which we understand that this person belongs to God."